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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


SINGULAR  SURNAMES 


COLLECTED    BY    THE    LATE 


EDWARD     D.     INGRAHAM,     Esq, 


EDITED     BY 


WILLIAM    DUANE 


PHILADELPHIA: 

JOHN   CAMPBELL  h  SON, 

LAW   BOOKSELLERS,   PUBLISHERS  AND  IMPORTERS, 

No.   740  Sansom   Street. 

1873- 


V 


SINGULAR  SURNAMES 


COLLECTED    BY    THE    LATE 


EDWARD     D.     INGRAHAM,     Escl 


EDITED    BY 


WILLIAM    DU  ANE. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

JOHN   CAMPBELL  &  SON, 

LAW  BOOKSELLERS,  PUBLISHERS  AND  IMPORTERS, 
No.  740  Sansom  Street. 

1873- 


Henry  B.  Ashmead,  Book  and  Job  Printer, 
II02  and  II04  Sansom  Street. 


cs 
2¥S7 


PREFACE. 


I-N  the  large  and  valuable  library  left  by  Mr.  Ingraham, 
was  a  thick  volume,  endorsed  "•  Singular  Surnames."  It  con- 
tained several  thousand  nevi^spaper  cuttings,  and  many  manu- 
script entries  derived  from  books  and  other  sources.  A  large 
number  of  them  were  accompanied  by  humorous  comments 
by  Mr.  Ingraham.  The  following  pages  comprise  selections 
from  this  book. 

Edward  Duffield  Ingraham,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,* 
on  the  [2th  of  February,  i  793,  and  was  called  after  his  maternal 
grandfather,  a  clock  and  watchmaker  of  this  city,  a  person 
of  considerable  reputation  as  a  man  of  science,  one  of  Dr. 
Franklin's  intimate  friends  and  one  of  the  executors  of  his 
will. 

Mr.  Ingraham's  education  was  commenced  at  the  Lower 
Dublin  Academy.  Subsequently,  he  entered  the  Collegiate 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1809,  but  did  not  graduate  with  it.  In 
the  year  181 1,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law,  in  the 
office  of  Alexander  James  Dallas,  Esq.,  at  one  period  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  during  the  Presi- 
dency of  Mr.  Madison.  Mr.  Ingraham's  admission  to  the 
bar  was  on  the  i6th  of  December,  1813. 

He   soon  acquired  an  extensive   practice,  and   was  a  suc- 

*  In  an  obituary  notice  of  Mr.  Ingraham  published  in  one  of  the 
Philadelphia  newspapers,  it  was  stated  that  he  was  born  in  Bucks 
county,  and  also  buried  therein.  Both  these  assertions  were  erroneous. 
He  was  born  in  a  house  on  the  east  side  of  South  Second  street,  a  few 
doors  north  of  Spruce  street,  Philadelphia. 


98747*^ 


PREFACE. 


cessful  advocate  in  the  courts,  where  he  enlivened  the  dry- 
ness of  legal  details  by  his  ever-ready  wit.  For  a  short  time, 
he  sat  on  the  bench  as  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Philadelphia  County.  At  a  later 
period,  he  was  one  of  the  Vice  Provosts  of  the  Law  Academy. 
He  wrote  a  treatise  on  the  Law  of  Insolvency,  which  reached 
a  second  and  enlarged  edition  in  the  year  1827.  Subsequently, 
he  was  appointed  a  Commissioner,  under  the  Act  of  Congress 
of  March  2,  1831,  relating  to  Insolvent  Debtors. 

He  was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Free  Trade  Conven- 
tion, which  met  in  the  Musical  Fund  Hall  of  Philadelphia, 
in  the  year  1831. 

A  Committee  having  been  appointed  by  the  United  States 
House  of  Representatives,  in  the  year  1834,  to  examine  the 
condition  of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Ingra- 
ham  was  selected  as  Secretary  to  the  Committee  ;  and  on 
the  27th  of  June  in  the  same  year,  he  was  nominated  as  one 
of  the  Government  Directors  of  that  Bank,  and  confirmed 
by  the  Senate,  after  several  other  nominees  for  that  situation 
had  been  rejected. 

A  biographical  notice  of  Mr.  Ingraham,  which  appeared 
in  the  Democratic  Review  for  July,  1849,  accompanied  by 
a  striking  likeness  of  him,  contains  the  following  account  of 
some  occurrences  at  the  Bank  durino-  the  time  that  Mr.  Inera- 
ham  was  a  Director: 

"On  the  14th  of  October,  1834,  President  Jackson  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  Government  Directors,  desiring  them 
to  obtain  certain  information  from  the  books  of  the  Bank,  to 
enable  the  Executive  to  ascertain  what  deductions  were 
made  from  the  profits  of  the  stock  of  the  Bank  held  by  the 
Government.  Notice  was  immediately  given  to  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  call  for  information,  and  that  when  ob- 
tained, it  would  be  laid  before  the  President.  The  application 
for  the  books  necessary  for  the  purpose,  was  refused,  and 
Mr.  Ingraham  and  A4r.  Macalester,  the  two  government 
directors,  by  whom  it   was  made,  at  once  proceeded   to  take 


PREFACE.  5 

possession  of  the  books,  from  one  of  which  they  proceeded  to 
make  suitable  extracts,  and  then  adjourned  at  the  close  of 
bank  hours.  The  next  day  they  again  presented  themselves, 
and  found  the  books  of  the  Bank  locked  up,  and  all  access  to 
them  denied." 

The  House  of  Representatives  called  upon  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  for  information  respecting  these  transactions, 
which  was  furnished  ;  but  nothing  followed. 

Under  the  last  law  of  Congress  providing  for  the  surrender 
of  fugitive  slaves,  Mr.  Ingraham  was  appointed  a  Commis- 
sioner, and  afforded  much  amusement  by  his  first  official  act, 
having  sent  the  wrong  man  to  Maryland. 

Mr.  Ingraham  was  twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Wilson,  of 
Snow  Hill,  Maryland,  and  secondly  to  Miss  Barney  of  Balti- 
more ;  both  of  whom  were  distinguished  for  their  amiability 
and  beauty.  The  first  wife  left  a  son  and  daughter  ;  the 
second  wife  had  no  children.  She  survived  him  and  died 
recently  at  New  Castle,  Delaware. 

In  addition  to  his  writings  upon  legal  subjects,  Mr.  Ingra- 
ham published  in  1849,  "A  Sketch  of  the  Events  which 
preceded  the  Capture  of  Washington  by  the  British,  on  the 
twenty-fourth  of  August,  1814."  The  object  of  this  work 
was  to  defend  General  Winder  ;  the  motto  was  a  quotation 
from  President  Washington's  writings :  "  If  we  desire  to 
avoid  insult^  we  must  be  prepared  to  repel  it."  Maps  of  the 
vicinity  of  Bladensburg  and  Washington  city,  accompanied 
this  work.* 

Mr.  Ingraham  died  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  5th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1854.  His  decease  was  sudden;  he  had  returned  from 
Baltimore  on  the  preceding  day,  apparently  in  his  usual  health. 
His  body  was  interred  in  the  ground  attached  to  All  Saint's 
Church,  Lower  Dublin  Township,  Philadelphia  County. 

His  library  was  subsequently  sold  at  auction,  and  brought 

*  In  the  Bulletin  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  for  June, 
1845,  will  be  found  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  capture  of  Washing- 
ton, written  to  Col.  Allen  McLane,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution. 


PREFACE. 


a  large  sum,  owing  in  a  great  degree,  to  the  habit  in  which 
he  indulged,  of  illustrating  his  books  with  autographs,  en- 
gravings, and  newspaper  cuttings. 

Mr.  Ingraham  was  distinguished  for  his  wit,  and  he  had 
one  good  quality,  very  rare  in  persons  so  endowed,  he  could 
bear  a  joke  at  his  own  expense.  Many  of  his  witty  remarks 
are  still  remembered  by  his  brethren  of  the  bar.  Any  notice 
of  him  would  be  very  imperfect,  which  did  not  contain  some 
of  them. 

Shortly  after   the  publication  of  his  work  on   Insolvency, 

Judge said   to  him   "Mr.   Ingraham,  that  book   of 

yours  is  not  law."  "  It  is  very  likely,"  was  his  prompt  reply, 
"there  are  a  great  many  of  your  decisions  in  it." 

He  had  his  shirts  made  of  unbleached  Irish  linen,  which 
he  imported  for  the  purpose.  During  a  passage  on  a  steam- 
boat to  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  a  Quaker  lady  sat  next  to 
him,  whose  attention  was  drawn  to  the  peculiar  colour  of  his 
linen.  At  last  she  said  to  him,  "  Will  thee  allow  me  to 
examine  thy  shirt?"  "Certainly,"  he  replied,  "which  end 
of  it  would  you  like  to  see." 

Captain  Marryat,  the  novelist,  was  distantly  related  to 
himj  and  when  the  Captain's  intention  to  visit  America  was 
announced,  Mr.  Ingraham  and  his  sister.  Miss  Catharine 
Ino-raham,  who  was  also  remarkable  for  her  wit,  invented  a 
number  of  anecdotes  to  tell  him  as  American  occurrences. 
One  of  these,  at  least,  is  in  the  Travels  in  the  United  States, 
which  the  Captain  published  after  his  return  to  England — the 
storv  of  the  woman  who  refused  to  make  long  tails  to  her 
husband's  shirts,  upon  the  ground  that  it  would  be  a  great 
waste  of  capital. 

Mr.  Ingraham  attended  an  exhibition  given  by  some  Spirit- 
•  ualists,  at  the  Union  Hotel  in  Arch  Street.  The  audience 
were  desired  ask  questions  of  the  spirits  mentally,  to  which, 
replies  were  to  be  given  by  rappings.  Mr.  Ingraham  said 
that  he  would  trouble  the  spirits  to  answer  only  two  ques- 
tions.     After  the  usual  pause,  affirmative  raps  were  given  to 


PREFACE. 


each  question.  "Now  ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  In- 
graham,  "  I  will    tell   you  what   my    questions   were.     The 

first  was,  '  Is  not  this  all  a  piece  of  d humbug,'  and  this  you 

have  heard  answered  in  the  affirmative.  The  second  ques- 
tion was,  '  Is  the  answer  which  the  spirits  have  given  to  the 
first  question  true  ?'  and  this  has  also  been  answered  in  the 
affirmative." 

It  will  be  observed  that  an  affirmative  and  a  negative 
answer  to  the  second  question  would  have  been  equally  un- 
fortunate to  the  exhibitors. 

The  conductors  of  the  performance  begged  Mr.  Ingraham 
to  go  awav,  as  "he  disturbed  the  spirits." 

About  forty-five  years  ago,  Mr.  W.  M.  C.  was  an  applicant  ^/K'f^v.^c^^ 
for  adrtiission  to  the  Philadelphia  Bar.  Mr.  Ingraham  was 
one  of  his  examiners.  Knowing  that  Mr.  C,  who  was  a 
young  man  of  fortune,  did  not  intend  to  practice,  he  asked 
him  only  one  question  :  "  Mr.  C,  how  do  you  make  chicken 
salad  ?"  Mr.  C.  described  the  process.  "  Perfectly  satis- 
factory ;"  said  Mr.  Ingraham,  "  I  will  sign  your  certificate 
with  great  pleasure." 


SINGULAR  SURNAMES. 


Art.     Died,  on  the  25th  instant,  George  Washington  Art. — 
Philadelphia  Ledger^  1 85 1. 
This  seems  to  be  some  English  whose  name  is  Hart. 

Allchin.  Died,  on  the  22d  instant,  Allchindus  AUchin, 
infant  son  of  George  and  Catharine  Allchin. — Philadelphia 
Ledger^  Nov.  24,  1 85 1. 

Ace,  Acres,  Active,  Africa,*  Agate,  Alabaster,  All,  Alibut, 
Allday,  Allgood,  Allnut,  Allwater,  Allwell,  Alley,  Almanac, 
Amiss,  Anger,  Angle,  Anguish,  Argue,  Arms,  Armour, 
Arrow,  Asp,  Assman,  Axe. 

Battle.  The  Rev.  A.  J.  Battle  has  been  elected  Chaplain 
of  the  North  Carolina  Volunteers. — March  12,  1847. 

Bacon.  "  Family  Hams. — The  undersigned  have  been  ap- 
pointed agents  for  the  sale  of  Duffield's  Celebrated  West- 
phalia Hams.  Sam.  Bacon  and  Co." 

Bird.  Odd  Coincidence.  "Should  this  meet  the  eye  of 
Richard  Bird  from  England,  he  will  hear  of  something 
greatly  to  his  advantage,  by  communicating  with  H.  H. 
Peacock^  52 J  Chestnut  Street." — Philadelphia  Ledgei^  June 
27,  1850. 

*  A  gentleman  of  this  name  represented  Huntingdon  county  in  the 
legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  a  few  years  ago.  On  one. occasion  when  he 
rose  to  speak,  the  speaker  by  a  slip  of  the  tongue,  announced  him  as 
"  the  gentleman  from  Africa." — Ed, 


lO  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Bird.  An  old  proverb  falsified.  Mr.  Benjamin  Bird,  a 
bachelor,  aged  60  years,  was  married  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
to  Mrs.  Julia  Chaff,  a  buxom  widow  of  30.  So  the  old 
Bird  was  at  last  caught  by  Chaff. — A^.  Ainerican^  Sept.  16, 
1854. 
Bills.     Paid  off.     Married  in  Manchester,  N.  H.,  Jabez  F. 

Bills  to  Miss  Lucinda  J.  Wheeler. 
Buss.     See  Kiss.     Benjamin  Buss,  hanged  for  kissing  a  man's 
wife,  and  helping  to  murder  him. — Dodsley's  Annual  Regis- 
ter for  1 769,  page  117. 
Bull,  John,  what  happened  to  him  in  "  Hamericur."     Died 
on  the  6th  inst,  Mr.  John   Bull,  in  the  46th  year  of  his 
age. — Ledger^  July  27,  1854. 
Bottle.     An  Ohio  paper  states,  that  a  Miss  Porter  in  that 
state,  has  married  a  man  named   Bottle.     The  editor  says 
it  is  not  only  a  good  match^  but  it  proves  there  are   more 
ways  than  one  to  bottle  porter. — Ledger^  Nov.  25,  1850. 
BoosEY  and  Sons,  Broad  Street,  London.     They  were  the 

publishers  of  the  Temperance  Tracts  for  a  long  time. 
Buster.     Dr.    Buster    prevented    Alexander    Grayer  from 

being  buried  alive. — North  American^  July  20,  1849. 
Blue.      How  being  black  and  blue  already,  they  made  him 
blacker   and  bluer.     James   Blue,   coloured  man,  several 
bad  cuts  in  the  head ;  taken  to  his  home  in  West  Centre 
Street. — Ledger^  May  22,  1842. 
Bitsh.      Married  at  Harrisburg,  October  30,  1832,  Benedict 

Arnold  to  Miss  Catharine  Bitsh. 
Margaret  Chiene  is  advertised  for  in  the  London  papers  of 

August  23,  1832. 
Bound — but    anxious  to   be   free.      Miss   Louisa   Bound   is 

plaintiff  in  a  divorce  suit. — Pennsylvan'ian.,  July  16,  1853. 
BuGG.     Augustin  Bugg  was  arrested  for  a  cruel  assault  and 

battery  on  Miss  Ann  Tugg. — Neiv  Orleans  paper. 
Brick — dust.     Died,  Feb.  19th,  Alfred,  son  of  S.  R.  Brick. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  II 

Babe,  Baby,  Bunting,  Badman,  Bailift',  Bald,  Ballance, 
Balm,  Bang,  Bangs,  Barehead,  Barefoot,  Bark,  Base,  Bason, 
Bastard,  Bathe,  Bawbee,  Bawl,  Beadle,  Bear,  Beard,  Bear- 
wash,  Beer,  Beet,  Begood,  Beldam,  Bending,  Bennison, 
Bent,  Bible,  Bier,  Big,  Bigger,  Biggin,  Bigmore,  Billet, 
Birdseye,  Birdsong,  Birth,  Bitters,  Blackbird,  Blacker,  Black- 
moor,  Blame,  Blank,  Blessing,  Blood,  Blow,  Blunder,  Board, 
Boards,  Boast,  Boatwright,  Bodkin,  Boddy,  Bogg,  Boggle, 
Bolster,  Bolter,  Boobyer,  Bookhammer,  Bookless,  Boot, 
Boring,  Boss,  Bottom,  Bowline,  Box,  Boxer,  Bone,  Boney, 
Bones,  Bragg,  Brain,  Bramble,  Brandy,  Brass,  Bray,  Bread, 
Breadcut,  Breedlove,  Brew,  Briar,  Bridle,  Brindle,  Brine, 
Broad,  Brogan,  Brush,  Buckle,  Bud,  Budding,  Buffaloe, 
Buffer,  Buggy,  Bullman,  Bump,  Bunch,  Bunn,  Burnside, 
Burstall,  Bury,  Bushel,  Buskin,  Bussing,  Butt,  Butterwig, 
Buttery,  Button,  Buttress,  Buyers,  Buzzard. 

Case,  Mr.,  "a  sorry  attorney." — Lady  Sundon's  Memoirs^  />. 
40. 

Capen.  An  Act  of  Congress  was  passed  in  1848,  for  the 
relief  of  Phineas  Capen,  administrator,  &:c.,  of  John  Cox. 

Cart.  Nicholas  Cart  and  others,  sue  Peter  H.  Carman, 
formerly  in  partnership  with  them. — A^.  T.  Herald^  March 
22,  1851. 

Chalk  kept  a  circulating  library  for  many  years  in  Philadel- 
phia.    (See  Cheese.) 

Craw — how  he  was  filled  too  full.  Charles  Craw,  a  pris- 
oner, escaping  from  a  constable  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  on 
Monday,  was  drowned. 

Catt.  The  Ha?npshire  Independent  of  April  12,  185 1,  an- 
nounces the  marriage  of  Charles  Catt,  Esq.,  to  Mary 
Ann,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Mew. 

Coon — "that  same  old."  Married  in  Wilkesbarre,  Mr. 
David  Coon  to  Miss  Helen  Long. — Penmyhanian^  Sept. 
15,  1849. 


12  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Cue— how  to  take  your.  Married,  on  March  27th,  Benja- 
min F.  Shirley,  of  Philadelphia,  to  Miss  Sarah  Cue,  of  New 
York. — Ledger^  1 851. 

Caudle,  in  an  action  for  slander  against  Sir  David  Scott, 
recovered  a  farthing  damages. — Morning  Herald^  Jug.  I, 
1834. 

Cable,  Cadmus,  Cain,  Caitiff,  Cake,  Calf,  Calm,  Calmes, 
Carmine,  Candy,  Cane,  Cant,  Cantwell,  Cape,  Capes, 
Capers,  Capon,  Care,  Careless,  Carnage,  Carnal,  Cartridge, 
Cartwright,  Casement,  Castor,  Catcher,  Catchpole,  Cato, 
Cattle,  Cautious,  Chaffer,  Chain,  Challenger,  Chance, 
Chaplain,  Chapman,  Charity,  Charleston,  Chasm,  Chaste, 
Cheek,  Cheese,  Cheater,  Chess,  Chick,  Chicken,  Chip, 
Chipchase,  Choice,  Christmas,  Chuck,  Churn,  Churchyard, 
Clapper,  Clapsaddle,  Clearwater,  Clemency,  Clever,  Cloak, 
Clock,  Close,  Cloud,  Clout,  Club,  Clutter,  Coach,  Coach- 
man, Coal,  Coarse,  Cobble,  Coffee,  Colder,  Coldham,  Cold- 
water,  Collar,  Colt,  Coltman,  Combs,  Comfort,  Comman- 
der, Coney,  Conger,  Conquest,  Cooling,  Copper,  Copper- 
smith, Core,  Corner,  Corns,  Cork,  Cosey,  Counsellor,  Coun- 
selman,  Courage,  Courter,  Covert,  Coward,  Cowherd,  Coy, 
Crabtree,  Crackles,  Cram,  Cramp,  Crane,  Crank,  Cravat, 
Craze,  Crease,  Creed,  Crier,  Crisp,  Cruit,  Crush,  Cryer, 
Cuckoo,  Cudgel,  Cuff,  Cull,  Cullion,  Cully,  Cunning,  Cups, 
Cur,  Curd,  Cure,  Curling,  Curser,  Cushion,  Cuss,  Custard, 
Cutbill. 

Dauber  was  the  name  of  a  family  at  Frankford  (Philadelphia 

County)  now  called  Dover. 
Death,    Absalom,    is  the    Superintendent   of  the    Lunatic 

Asylum  at  Cincinnati. — Evening  Bulletin^  Sept.  21,  1849. 

Death  and  Domesday.  Anthony  Irby  had  "two  daughters," 
Margaret,  who  married  Henry  Death,  and  Dorothy,  who 
married  John  Domesday." — Harleian  MSS.  1550,  p.  180. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  1 3 

"Mr.   Deill,    the  chaplain,  was  dead,  and  his    successor, 

Mr.    Demon,  had   not   yet  arrived." — Simpson's  Journey^ 

Part  2,  page  6 1,  American  Edition. 

"  Some  say  the  cleviFs  dead, 

And  buried  in  a  pumpkin." — Old  Song. 

Dear.  How  cheap  they  sold  his  stock — "  Selling  off,  a 
great  portion  of  the  stock  of  Bentley,  Dear  and  Co.,  has 
been  purchased  by  Newton,  14  Leicester  Square,  and  is 
now  on  sale  at  such  extraordinary  low  prices  as  will  aston- 
ish every  purchaser." — Morning  Herald.,  Nov.  3,  1834. 

The  Dohertys.  At  the  Donegal  Assizes,  James  Doherty 
was  indicted  for  an  assault  upon  Dennis  Doherty.  It  was 
a  remarkable  feature  in  this  trial,  that  the  Judge,  the  offici- 
ating Clerk  of  the  Crown,  the  prosecutor,  the  prisoner,  his 
counsel,  his  attorney  and  the  witnesses,  both  pro  and  con., 
nine  in  number,  were  all  Dohertys. — Star.,  1835. 

Drips.  In  1848,  David  Drips,  the  owner  of  an  oilcloth 
factory  in  Philadelphia,  was  sued  for  allowing  the  water  to 
leak  from  his  premises  into  those  of  one  of  his  neighbours. 

Drum.      In  a  hotel   here   (says   the    Trinidad  Spectato?-).,   a 

man   named    Drum   is   barkeeper.      His   friends   call   him 

Spirit-stirring  Drum. 
DoGOOD — how    badly   he   did.       (See   Talfourd's    Vacation 

Rambles,  Vol  2,  p.  95.) — London.,  1845. 
Dab  (quaere  Daub  ?)   was  a  painter  and  house  decorator  at 

Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  in  1851. 

DuNNCE,  John,  had  a  letter  advertised  for  him  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania Packet.,  of  January  13,  1772.  Probably  he  could 
not  read. 

Dry. — How  he  killed  his  friend  with  drinking.  Joseph 
Stonestreed  died  in  London,  in  1850,  from  the  effects  of  an 
enormous  quantity  of  brandy,  drunk  in  consequence  of  a 
bet  with  a  man  named  Dry.  The  coroner  reprimanded 
Dry,  hoping  the  death  of  his  friend  would  be  a  caution  to 
him  in  future. 


14  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

DooLiTTLE. — What  a  deal  he  undertook  to  do.  Mr. 
Henry  Doolittle  has  taken  the  contract  to  build  a  railroad 
from  Troy  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  for  a  little  over  $2,000,000. 

-1853. 
Day.      "Notice.      Mr.   Henry   Day    withdraws    from   our 
firm,   this   day.     Furness     Brinley   &    Co. — Philadelphia^ 

Jtdy  I,  1854." 

Which  day  did  he  withdraw  from  the  firm,  himself,  or 
the  I  St  of  July,  '54  ? 
Damm.     The  contested  will  case   of  the   late   G.   Damm, 
Esq.,  of  New  Orleans,  still   progresses,  and   causes  some 
tall  swearing  among  the  contestants. 

Dagger,  Dainty,  Daisy,  Dampman,  Dancer,  Dandelion, 
Dandy,  Dare,  Durst,  Dark,  Darling,  Dart,  Daub,  Deadman, 
Dear,  Dearlove,  Delay,  Deme,  Denial,  Devil,  Diable,  Dew, 
Dialogue,  Diaper,  Dibble,  Dickensheets,  Ditty,  Dive,  Diver, 
Divine,  Dock,  Doe  (see  Roe),  Dodge,  Doll,  Dollar,  Dots, 
Double,  Doubleday,  Doubleman,  Doxey,  Drabble,  Dray- 
man, Drinkard,  Drinkhouse,  Drinkwater,  Driver,  Dropsie, 
Drought,  Drown,  Duck,  Dudgeon,  Duel,  Dull,  Duly, 
Dutchman,  Dye. 

Easum  (see  Balme), — appropriate  name.  Easum's  Tooth 
Paste  advertised  in  London,  in  1830,  as  patronized  by  the 
royal  family. 

Encore.  In  1852,  Mr.  Florence,  M.  C,  presented  a  me- 
morial from  Joseph  Encore  and  others,  for  a  grant  of  land 
to  the  soldiers  of  the  war  of  181 2." 

Erie.  Mr.  Fort  Erie  was  a  merchant  in  Philadelphia  in 
1853.      He  had  a  brother  named  Lake  Erie.* 

Eager — for  an  office.  "Alexander  A.  Eager  will  be  a  can- 
didate for  Auditor,  subject  to  the  rules  of  the  Democratic 
party." — Philadelphia  Ledger^  1853. 

*  This  was  probably  only  another  way  of  spelling  Ihrie,  a  Pennsyl- 
vania surname. — Ed. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  I5 

Early,  Earthy,  Easeman,  Eater,  Eddy,  Edge,  Egg  (see 
Rotten),  Eggbear,  Eighteen  (qu.  Aytoun)  ?  Element,  En- 
gineman.  Eve,  Evening,  Event,  Eye. 

Flattery — how  he  belied  his  name.     At  a  meeting  of  the 

proprietors  of  the  Arigna   Company,  held  at  the  London 

Tavern,  on  August  26th,  the  following  was  part  of  a  very 

sharp  conversation  among  those  present. 

"^  Shareholder. — We   had  better  join    Roger  Flattery 

Esq.,  to  the  new  directors." 

"  Mr.  Flattery. — Do  you  hold  your  tongue,  Isaac.    You 

are  always  telling  such  d d  lies.      Go  along  and  account 

for  the  £40,000,  you  got  out  of  the  Hombush  mines." 
'■'J  Shareholder.— Yon  lie!" 
'-'-  Another. — You  lie,  you  rascal !" 
"Ji/r.  Flattery. — You  know,   Isaac,  you    are    an  ould 

liar  !" 

"  Mr.  Denman. — Why,  Mr.  Flattery,  you  act  with  great 

assurance.      It  is  not  long  since,  you  were  a  beggar." 
Faithful.     Mr.  Faithful,  M.  P.  for  Brighton,  submitted  a 

motion  to  the  House  of  Commons,  in   1833,  looking  to  a 

confiscation  of  the  revenues  of  the  National  Church. 
First  come,  first  served.     Married,  near   Harrisburg,  Pa., 

Mr.  John  Shuman  First,  of  Clinton  county,  tp  Miss  Pris- 

cilla  Jane  McClure. — Pennsylvanian.,  August  2,  1849. 
|th.     Married   on   the    ist   July,  by  the   Rev.   Mr.    Rood, 

Robert  J.  Forthfifth  to  Miss  Margaret  Moore. — Pennsyl- 

vanian^  January  27,  1847. 
FisK.     An  Act  of  Congress  to   change  (not  for  the  better), 

the  name  of  Photius  Havafales  to  Photius  Fisk. 
jTjSH — what  hands  he  fejl  into.       Married  in  Carbon  county, 

Mr.   Asa   Fish   to  Miss  Sarah  Fryman. — Pennsyhanian., 

October  1 6,  1 848. 
Flint  and  Steel  were  a  firm  of  bootmakers  in   High  Hol- 

born,  London,  in  the  year  1848. 


l6  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Freebird— how  she  was  caught.  Married  on  Tuesday 
evening,  17th  inst.,  Joseph  Neilson  to  Miss  JuHa  A. 
Freebird,  both  of  this  city. — Baltimore  Sun^  October  18, 
1848. 

Firms.  Wait  &  Ketchum  make  patent  medicines  on  a 
large  scale  in  New  York. 

Call  &  Settle  have  a  tailoring  establishment  in  Mead- 
ville,  Pa.      I  presume  they  give  short  credits. 

Neal  &  Pray  is  a  business  firm  in  Portland,  Maine. 
It  is  superfluous  to  add,  that  they  belong  to  orthodox 
churches. 

Luke  Sharpe  is  in  the  retail  business  in  Cincinnati.  As 
might  be  expected  from  the  name,  he  is  always  wide 
awake,  whenever  money  is  to  be  made. — Cisfs  Advertiser^ 
1848. 

"  A  pretty  kettle  of  fish."  The  following,  from  the 
Alabama  Baptist^  shows  how  several  persons  went 
"  A  fishing,  in  the  matrimonial  deep." 
About  eighteen  miles  southeast  from  Andalusia,  on 
Thursday,  October  i6th,  were  married  at  the  residence 
of  B.  B.  Bass,  by  G.  A.  Snowdon,  late  Judge  of  Probate, 
James  Teel  to  Nancy  Bass,  William  Teel  to  Mary  Bass, 
and  Wilson  Bass  to  Jane  Teel.  James,  William  and  Jane 
Teel,  are  the  children  of  John  and  Anna  Teel.  Wilson, 
Nancy  and  Mary  Bass,  are  children  of  N.  B.  Bass,  all  of 
Covington  county,  Alabama. 

Failing,  Fair,  Fairbrass,  Fairy,  Faith,  Fallowfield,  Famous, 
Farewell,  Fast  Feather,  Fee,  Feltwell  (see  Illman  and 
Malady),  Few,  Fidget,  Fidler,  Fie,  Fife,  Figges,  File- 
sticker,  Fine,  Finger,  Firebrace,  Fix,  Flamer,  Flash,  Flesh, 
Flight,  Flint,  Float,  Fluent,  Flum,  Flurry,  Fly,  Fogs,  Fogy, 
Fougy,  Footboy,  Footit,  Force,  Foreigner,  Forge,  Forget, 
Footer,  Fort  (see  Garrison),  Fortune,  Forty,  Frail,  Frame, 
Freebody,  Fresh,  Freeze,  Freshwater,  Front,  Fryday,  Fud- 
dler.  Fudge,  Fuel,  Fullalove,  Funnell,  Fury,  Fuss. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  I7 

Grist.  A  dressmaker  at  Bath  has  four  female  assistants  in 
her  employ,  whose  names  are  Grist,  Miller,  Meal  and 
Flour. — Morning  Herald^  March  26,  1824. 

Goodman — how  he  belied  his  name.  Thomas  Goodman, 
aged  20,  was  indicted  for  having  set  fire  to  a  barn. — Morn- 
ing Herald^  December  24,  1830. 

Glutton,  Richard,  was  one  of  the  first  purchasers  from 
William  Penn, — 7.d  Catalogue  for  1000  Acres. 

GuTMAN,  Joseph.  Probably  a  German,  who  should  trans- 
late it  into  Goodman. 

Grass — the  meaning  of  going  to.  Adarried  in  New  Or- 
leans, Mr.  Horace  E.  Kneass  to  Miss  L.  Grass. 

Gully.  Dr.  Gully  is  the  author  of  "  The  Water  Cure." — 
1846. 

Gust — under  what  propitious  circumstances  he  was  married. 
On  board  brig  Colorado,  off  Cape  Horn,  by  Capt.  P.  J. 
Baker,  Mr.  J.  Henry  Gust,  of  Roxbury,  Mass.,  to  Miss 
Jane  Stinsfield,  of  the  same  city.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  during  a  gale  of  wind,  but,  notwithstanding  the 
unpropitiousness  of  the  elements,  it  is  said  to  have  been  a 
very  happy  occasion,  in  which  all  on  board  participated. — 
N.  T.  Herald^  Nov.  ii,  1850. 

Going — gone.  Died  in  Philadelphia,  Emma  R.,  wife  of  F. 
C.  Going. 

Gabb,  GafF  (see  Cocks),  Gagger,  Gales,  Galling,  Gallon, 
Gambling,  Game,  Gammon,  Gander,  Goose,  Gosling,  Gape, 
Gapes,  Garlick,  Garment,  Garrison,  Gathercoal,  Gatherer, 
Gauntlett,  Gause,  Gem,  Gentleman,  Ghost,  Giblet,  Gift, 
Gilliflower,  Gimlet,  Gingerly,  Ginn,  Given,  Glander,  Glass- 
poole.  Glazier,  Glue,  Goad,  Goat,  Godbid,  Godley,  Godson, 
Godsmark  (see  Cain),  Godsen,  Goldtrap,  Golightly,  Goods, 
Goody,  Goodbody,  Goodchild,  Goodfellow,  Goodluck, 
Goodnight,  Gotobed,  Gore,  Gouger,  Gout,  Grapes,  Grave, 
Gravel,  Greedy,  Greece,  Greener,  Grief,  Grieve,  Grindall, 


1 8  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Groce  (see  Twentyman),  Grog,  Groin,  Grouse,  Grum, 
Grumble,  Grumbling,  Gudgeon,  Guitar,  Gutt,  Gullett, 
Gum,  Gump,  Gun. 

Halfhide — how  he  was  skinned.  In  1849,  Samuel  Half- 
hide  was  before  the  Bankruptcy  Court  in  London,  and 
was  opposed  for  fraudulent  preference,  concealment  of 
property,  obtaining  goods  from  creditors  in  contemplation 
of  bankruptcy,  and  having  torn  leaves  out  of  his  cash 
book. 

Hell.  Mons.  Hommaire  de  Hell,  the  scientific  traveller, 
died  at  Ispahan,  in  August,  1848.  He  had  been  sent  to 
Persia  on  a  scientific  mission  by  the  French  government. — 
Literary  World^  Dec.  16,  1848. 

Hemp — how  they  accused  him  of  stretching.  In  February, 
1833,  Hemp  was  tried  for  having  committed  perjury  in 
the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  sitting  at  Guildhall.  He  was 
acquitted  with  the  approval  of  the  chief  justice. 

HoRSBACK — how  they  sat  upon  him.  Richard  Horsback 
was  tried  upon  the  charge  of  receiving  about  eighty  yards 
of  carpet  from  William  Landis,  knowing  the  same  to  have 
been  stolen. — ^larter  Sessions^  Philadelphia^  Sept.  1847. 

Half,  Halfhead,  Halfman,  Hailstone,  Hair  (see  Wig), 
Ham  (see  Back,  &c.).  Hammer  (see  Tongs),  Handle, 
Hands,  Handiwork,  Happy,  Hard,  Harder,  Hardman,  Har- 
mony, Harridan,  Hasty  (see  Pudding),  Hatch  (see  Egg), 
Hatt,  Haycock,  Head,  Heal,  Healing,  Heart,  Hebrew, 
Height,  Helm  (see  Tiller),  Helpman,  Helps,  Hemming  (see 
Needles),  Henn,  Hennman,  Hider,  High  (see  Low,  Jack 
and  Game),  Hightower,  Hilt,  Hiss,  Hoard,  Hoe  (see  Shovel), 
Hog,  Hogmire,  Hogpen,  Hoof,  Hook  (see  Eye),  Hooking, 
Hopper  (see  Skipper),  Horn,  Hornblower,  Hornet,  Howler, 
Howling,  Huff\,  Hugus,  Humble,  Hunn,  Hurdle,  Hurt, 
Hurting,  Husband  (see  Younghusband). 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  I9 

Innocent.  "  Among  the  trades-people  fined  in  London, 
one  day  this  month,  for  having  unjust  scales,  &c.,  in  their 
possession,  was  a  widow  with  the  singular  name  of  Virtue 
Innocent." 

I^fCH — who  took  an  Ell.  Thomas  Inch,  hardly  fourteen, 
was  charged  with  felony,  having  stolen  a  shawl  from  a 
counter. — London  Paper ^  1822. 

Izard.  Th's  is  said  to  be  the  only  letter  of  the  alphabet, 
used  for  a  surname.  There  are  some  which  in  sound 
alone  are  exceptions.      Gee  and  yay  are  of  them. 

Idler,  Image,  Ink,  Inkpen,  Iron  (see   Brass),  Ironcutter, 
Ironsides. 

Jenny.  A  person  of  this  name  was  murdered  by  another 
named  Spinnings  in  1850. 

Jester — the  serious  thing  that  he  did.  Married,  in  West 
Chester,  Levis  T.  Jester  to  Miss  Phebe  Holland. 

Job's  Wife.  Died  on  Seventh-day  morning,  28th  instant, 
Lydia  A.  Job,  in  the  8oth  year  of  her  age. — North  Ameri- 
can^ 1850. 

Jack,  Jackas,   Jay,   Jealous,   Jelly,   Jewel,   Joint,  Judge, 
Jury,  Jump,  June,  Justice. 

Keel  up,  the  meaning  of. — Died  on  the  2d  instant, 
Edward  Keel,  in  the  32d  year  of  his  age. — Ledger^  Oct.  3, 
1851. 

Kalafat,   Kegs,   Kennel,   Kettle  (see   Tea),   Key,   Keys, 
Keyhole   (see   Lock),    Kickem,    Kidney,    Kildee,    Killhour, 
Killieves,  Kingdom,  Kiss,  Kitcat,  Kitten  (see  Mew,  Pussey) 
Knee,  Knot,  Knock,  Knocker,  Knife,  Knuckles. 


20  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Lambkin,  his  innocence. — John  J.  Lambkin  was  con- 
victed, at  Mount  Holly,  of  forging  a  check  on  the  Me- 
chanics' Bank  of  Burlington. — Ledger^  1850. 

Lease,  a  long,  the  meaning  of.  Died  in  Tyrone  Town- 
ship, Adams  County,  Pa.,  John  Lease,  aged  about  ninety- 
two  years. — May^  1847. 

Labor,  Lack,  Lackland,  Lambshead,  Lame,  Lance,  Land, 
Langridge,  Lank,  Lark,  Lash,  Last,  Latchet,  Lath,  Lathy, 
Lax,  Lead,  Lean,  Leave,  Lecture  (see  Caudle),  Leather, 
Leathern,  Leeks  (see  Onions,  Garlick),  Lees,  Legs,  Leisure, 
Lemon,  Limes  (see  Punch),  Lent  (see  Given),  Lies,  Limber, 
Linen,  Linensheets,  Lingo,  Lion  (see  Tiger),  Lips,  Liquor- 
ish, Littlefear,  Lob,  Longbottom,  Longden,  Longmaid, 
Loom,  Loose,  Loricus,-  Loud  (see  Thunder),  Lovelady, 
Lovelock,  Loving,  Lucid,  Luck,  Lumpus,  Lyre. 

Makepeace.  Thomas  Makepeace  was  fined  <£ioo  last 
week  for  a  breach  of  the  peace  at  Southampton. — Morn- 
ing Herald^  1832. 

Marriage.  Among  the  subscribers  to  Mr.  Buckingham's 
intended  voyage  'round  the  world  are  Mr.  Marriage,  Sen. 
and  Jun.  These  gentlemen,  of  course,  are  wedded  to  the 
project. — Morning  Herald.,  Oct.  25,  1830. 

Mock — in  earnest.  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Mock  was  up  before 
the  Cincinnati  Recorder  for  flogging  her  husband  with  a 
cowhide. — Ledger .y  March  i,  1851. 

Molasses  (see  Sweet).  Sir  Dudley  Hill,  the  governor  of 
St.  Lucie,  has  nominated  Lieutenant-Colonel  Molasses 
his  aid-de-camp.  Molasses  appears  to  be  a  most  appropri- 
ate appointment  in  a  sugar  island. — Morning  Herald.^  Oct. 
9^  1834. 

Muslin,  Edward,  was  convicted  of  stealing  twenty  yards  of 

Irish  linen. — European  Magazine.,  March.,  ^I'^Z' 
.Musselman  and  Turk  are  Pennsylvania  names. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  21 

Mayden.  a  young  lady,  whose  name  was  Mayden,  having 
married  a  gentleman  named  Mudd,  gave  rise  to  the  follow- 
ing epigram  : 

Lot's  wife,  'tis  said,  in  days  of  old, 

For  one  rebellious  halt, 
Was  turned,  as  we  are  plainly  told, 

Into  a  lump  of  salt. 
The  same  propensity  to  change 

Still  runs  in  woman's  blood  ; 
For  here  we  see  a  case  as  strange — 

A  Mayden  turned  to  Mudd. 

Maccabees,  Mace,  Madder,  Maid,  Malady,  Male,  Mallet, 
Man,  Maneuvre,  Manspeaker,  Mantle,  Marrow  (see  Bones), 
Marry,  Marsh,  Martingale  (see  Bridle,  Harness,  Horsback), 
Martyn,  Mash,  Maul,  Maw,  Maypole,  Measles,  Meek, 
Merchant,  Merryman,  Mew,  Midnight,  Midway,  Mind, 
Mint,  Minx,  Moan,  Mock  (see  Turtle),  Moist  (a  Water- 
man), Moister,  Mortar,  Most,  Moth,  Mould,  Moulder  (see 
Rotten),  Much,  Mules,  Mum,  Mummery,  Mumper,  Munch, 
Mush,  Musk,  Muszgnug,  Muskett,  Musick,  Muss,  Mus- 
tard. 

Neck — what  danger  he  was  in  of  being  stretched.  A 
young  man,  of  very  respectable  appearance,  named  Ben- 
jamin Neck,  was  brought  before  the  lord  mayor  upon  a 
charge  of  forgery. — Morning  Herald^  Dec.  i,  1834. 

Nail,  Near,  New  (see  Old),  Needle,  Needles,  Neigh 
(see  Mare),  Nettles,  Nihill,  Nix,  Noacre,  Nobbs,  Nodder, 
Noggle,  Noose,  Northeast,  Northern,  Novice. 

Oyster — not  crossed  in  love.  Married,  at  Gettysburg, 
Pa.,  on  the  9th  instant,  John  Oyster  of  Washington,  D. 
C,  to  Miss  Phebe  Ann  Flohr,  of  Gettysburg. — Sept. 
1846. 


22  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Otter.     Epigram    on    the    Rev.    William     Otter,    M.A. 
principal  of  King's   College,   London,  on  his  being   pre- 
sented to  a  bishoprick. 

After  so  dry  an  occupation 
As  giving  boys  an  education. 

Pleased  must  an  Otter  be, 
Wiien  he  is  spared  the  toil  of  teaching. 
And  (saving  now  and  then)  of  preaching. 
To  plunge  into  a  See. 

Omit,  Onion,  Only,  Onyx,  Outerbridge,  Outlaw,  Out- 
water,  Overend,  Overstrut,  Overland,  Owings  (an  insol- 
vent debtor).  Owner. 

Pepper.     There   are   eighteen   families  in  the  directory  ;  a 

tolerable  sprinkling. 
Pillow.     See  any  account  of  the  Mexican  war  of  1847-8. 

The  administration  was  accused  of  attempting  to  bolster 

him  up.     (See  Bolster.) 
Pilgrim — another  Pilgrim's  Progress.     James  Pilgrim,  the 

proprietor  of  a  fancy  bazaar  in  the  vicinity  of  Third  and 

Chestnut  streets,  was  tried  upon  an  indictment  under  the 

lottery  law  and  found  guilty. 

Pagan  (see  Christian),  Pain  (see  Grief),  Pamphilion,  Pan- 
cake, Pander,  Pangs,  Panther  (see  Tiger),  Pantry  (see  Par- 
lor), Paradise,  Parcels,  Pardon,  Parlour  (see  Kitchen  and 
Hall),  Parsonage,  Past,  Paste  (see  Diamond),  Patchman, 
Pate,  Paternoster,  Patience,  Pavonarius,  Pay,  Peach,  Pear, 
Peck  (see  Bushel),  Pedler,  Peel,  Peepear,  Pence,  Penny, 
Peoples,  Peppercorn,  Pepperdy,  Pew,  Pharaoh,  PhcEbus, 
Picking,  Pickles,  Pickup,  Pike,  Pinch,  Pink,  Pipkin,  Pippin, 
Pique,  Pistole,  Pitty,  Player,  Plenty,  Pluck,  Poetes,  Poland 
(see  Spain,  &c.).  Pond,  Pontifex,  Poorman  (see  Richman), 
Popjoy,  Poppy,  Postman,  Pother,  Pottle,  Pounds,  Powder 
(see  Balls,  Shotwell),  Pout,   Prance  (see  Dance),  Precious, 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  23 

Present,  Presser,  Pretty,  Prettyman,  Proper,  Proudlove, 
Prudence,  Pry,  Pucker,  Pudding,  Puling,  Pullman,  Pully, 
Punch,  Puncher,  Purse,  Purser,  Pussey. 

Quail  (see  Partridge),  Quarrel,  Quarterman  (see  Half- 
man),  Quarters,  Quattlebum,  Queckett,  Question,  Quibble 
(see  Law),  Quiggle,  Quill  (see  Goose),  Quirk. 


Rake— the  good  he  came  to.  Married,  in  Doylestown, 
Pa.,  Solomon  Rake  to  Susannah  Buskirk. 

Red.  In  December,  1798,  George  Brown  gave  notice  to 
all  persons  indebted  to  the  estate  of  William  Red^  de- 
ceased, to  make  payment. 

RoBB.  Robb  was  president  and  Poor^  treasurer  of  a  savings 
institution  in  1838,  which  failed,  as  might  have  been  ex- 
pected. 

Roe,  Richard.  In  1829,  Richard  Radford  Roe  was  re- 
leased from  imprisonment  on  board  a  transport  ship  and 
brought  back  to  Dublin. 

Rotten.  Heales  sued  Rotten  for  veal  pies  furnished  to 
liJm. — London  Morning  Chronicle^  1848. 

Reel how  it  was  attempted  to  turn  him  'round.  "  Phila- 
delphia, December  21,  1852.  John  Welsh  was  yester- 
day held  to  bail  in  the  sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  for 
attempting  to  bribe  Frederick  Reel,  a  member  of  the 
legislature  and  of  the  county  board,  to  vote  in  favor  of 
allowing  the  Camden  ferry  company  to  charge  toll  upon 
boats  passing  through  Windmill  Island." 

Root.  In  one  of  the  counties  of  Wisconsin,  it  is  said  that 
there  are  three  candidates  for  the  legislature  :  J.  M.  Root, 
Democrat;  Robert  Hogg,  Free-soil;  and  T.  H.  Dye, 
Whig.  So  on  election  day,  it  will  be  "  Root,  Hog,  or 
Die"  with  the  voters. 


24  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Ragged,  Raiment,  Rainbow,  Rainy,  Ramshorn,  Rams- 
bottom,  Rasper,  Rat,  Raw,  Rawbone,  Real,  (see  Mock), 
Reckless,  Records,  Redhead,  Redgrave,  Redlion,  Register, 
Rest,  Rhino,  Ribbon,  Richman,  (see  Poorman),  Ride, 
Robbery  (see  Felony,  Steal),  Room,  Rosin,  Rough,  Roughly, 
Rouser,  Round,  Rubber,  Ruby,  Rumholder,  Rump,  Rusty, 
Rye. 

Scamp,  Daniel,  was  murdered  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
,by  D.  Heckerthorne,  who  is  to  be  hanged  for  it. — National 
Police  Gazette^  December  30,  1848. 

Second,  Mr.  See  "  Memoirs  of  the  Coleman  Family,  Vol. 
2,  p.  294."  His  wife  was  a /^/r^/ rate  singer.  Ibid.  (See 
Third.) 

Sheepshanks.     "William  Sheepshanks, an  estimable  citizen 
of  Philadelphia,  while  walking  the  street  on  Tuesday,  fell 
dead  in  a  fit  of  apoplexy." — Dec.  12,  1837. 
He  was  an  Englishman  with  remarkably  thick  legs. 

Snooks  is  a  corruption  of  Seven  Oaks,  called  Se'noaks  in 
Kent,  England. — Notes  and  ^eries  for  May.,  1852,/).  438. 

Spittle — not  discharged.  James  Spittle,  an  insolvent,  was 
brought  up  in  custody  upon  his  petition  to  be  discharged. 
He  was  remanded. — Morning  Herald.,  April.,  1824. 

Sly.  "  The  Slys  came  in  with  the  Conqueror."  "  On 
Friday,  H.  Corrigan,  a  policeman,  was  arraigned  for  perjury 
on  the  trial  of  Mr.  Sly." — Morning  Herald.,  July  14,  1836. 

Shines,  cutting, — the  meaning  of.  Dennis  Cary  was 
stabbed  with  a  knife  in  the  streets  of  Boston,  on  Wednesday 
evening,  by  one  Cornelius  Shines.  A  cutting  Shines  like 
this,  is  clearly  acting  contrary  to  law. 

Shoe,  off.  Died  on  the  20th  instant  Henry  Edward,  son 
of  Bonaparte  and  Elizabeth  Shoe. — Ledger.,  June  22,  1854. 

Sunrise,  Peter,  the  son  of  Peter  Sundown.* 

*  Probably  the  names  of  American  Indians. — Ed. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  25 

Shackle — appropriate  name.  Gay  v.  Shackle. — This  was 
an  action  to  recover  compensation  in  damages  for  injury 
sustained  by  means  of  the  false  imprisonment  to  which  the 
plaintiff  had  been  submitted  by  the  defendant. 

Shindy.  J.  Warren  Shindy  was  before  the  mayor  yesterday 
for  ^'  making  poetry  up  an  alley." — Pennsylvanian^  June 
19,  1849. 

Stammers — odd  name  for  a  lawyer.  Northern  Circuit. 
York,  Hill  and  others  v.  Brook.  Mr.  Alexander  and 
Mr.  Wightman  for  the  plaintiffs  ;  Mr.  Starkie  and  Mr. 
Stammers  for  the  defendant. 

Still  was  the  author  of  Gammer  Gurton's  needle. 

Epitaph  in  a  country  churchyard,  1829. 

Underneath  doth  lie  until 
The  Day  of  Judgment,  Peter  Still, 
Who  when  living  was  a  Miller, 
Still  he  then  was — now  he  's  stiller.  . 

Snag,  ran  against  a.  William  Wright  has  been  held  in  $600 
bail  by  Alderman  Gaw  on  complaint  of  Miss  Margaret 
Snag. 

Sad  (see  Grief),  Sailor,  Saltus  (see  Jump),  Salt,  Salmon  (see 
Trout,  &c.),  Sam,  Sandbank,  Sandyman,  Sank,  Sapp,  Saving, 
Saucebox,  Saw,  Scales  (see  Fish),  Scaly,  Scarlet  (see  Red), 
Scattergood,  School,  Scripture  (see  Bible),  Scotland,  Scout, 
Scullion,  Scurry,  Seagull,  Seeds,  Self,  Sell  (see  Buyers), 
Sentence,  Senior,  Serious,  Servant,  Sexton,  Shad,  Shade, 
Shadow,  Shakeshaft,  Shank,  Shanks,  Shankstone,  Shaver, 
Shears,  Shearer,  Shed,  Sheers,  Sheering,  Sheets,  Shell  (see 
Oyster),  Shew,  Shillinglow,  Shingle,  Shirk,  Shivers,  Shirt, 
Shirts  (see  Smock),  Shoot,  Shooter,  Shots,  Shotgun,  Short, 
Shorter,  Shout,  Shovel,  Slipper  (see  Buckle),  Slow,  Shock, 
Shower,  Showers  (see  Rainy),  Shroud,  Shufflebottom,  Side, 
Sides,  Signs,  Silver,  Sin,  Single,  Sinkhorn,  Simpers,  Sirjohn, 
Six,  Sixty,  Skeleton,  Skill,  Skinner,  Skipper  (see  Hopper), 


26  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Slap,  Slayman,  Sleep,  Sleeper,  Slicer,  Slight,  Smaller,  Small- 
bone,  Smallpiece,  Smack,  Smelt,  Smile,  Snapp,  Sneer, 
Sneezum,  Snook,  Snow,  Snowball,  SnufF,  Soft  (see  Hard), 
Softlaws,  Sombre,  Son,  Sopp,  Soul  (see  Body),  Sour,  Spain, 
Sparrow,  Speed,  Spike,  Spikins,  Spillman,  Spitfathom,  Spit- 
tlehouse.  Spleen,  Spokes,  Sponge,  Spoon,  Springs,  Sprunk, 
Spry,  Squirrel,  Stabber,  Stair,  Stallion,  Stamp,  Standing, 
Standaloft,  Stead,  Steal,  Steelman,  Steer  (see  Bull),  Stem, 
Stern,  Steamer,  Stocks,  Stones,  Stocking  (see  Shoe),  Straw 
(see  Hay),  Strawberry,  Stilts,  Stranger,  Strangeman,  Strange- 
ways,  Straight,  Stretch, .  Stretcher,  Stride,  Strut,  Stiff,  Stone- 
breaker,  Stubblefield,  Stuck,  Stutter  (see  Stammers),  Stump 
(see  Tree),  Stumble,  Stunt,  Sturdy,  Suet,  Sultan  (see  Turk)^ 
Summons,  Sun,  Sunday,  Supple,  Sustenance,  Swar,  Sweeper, 
Sweet,  Sweetman,  Sweetapple,  Sweeten,  Sweeter,  Swindler, 
Swing. 

Till — the  place  to  find  coins.  "William  Till,  dealer  in 
coins  and  medals,  17  Great  Russell  Street,  Covent  Garden, 
having  recently  purchased  a  large  collection  of  Antique 
and  Modern  Coins  and  Medals,  he  is  enabled  to  offer 
them  on  the  lowest  terms." — 'January  15,  1829. 

Trickey.  In  1825,  a  Major  Trickey  was  put  under  arrest 
in  London,  charged  with  conspiring  with  a  person  named 
Mclntyre,  to  give  bad  meat  to  the  soldiers. 

Tongue  (tied) — the  meaning  of.  The  Rev.  J.  W.  Tongue 
married  a  couple  in  Baltimore,  December  12,  1849. — 
Baltimore  Sun. 

Tea — the  meaning  of  taking.  Seized  and  taken  in  execu- 
tion as  the  property  of  Richard  Tea,  and  to  be  sold  by 
William  Deal,  sheriff. — Nove?nber  11,  185 1. 

Times — the  meanino-  of  bad.  William  Times,  for  stealino- 
a  hog  from  Matilda  Cook,  was  arrested  by  Officer  Small 
and  committed  for  Court  by  Justice  Root. — Baltimore^  Oct.^ 
1849. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  7.'] 

Tags,  Tall,  Tallman,  Tallents,  Tame,  Tankard,  Tantum, 
Taper,  Target,  Tart,  Taunt,  Tawney,  Teagarden,  Teal, 
Teapot,  Teasel,  Tempest  (see  Teapot),  Tear  (see  Grief), 
Terrier,  Test,  Thick,  Thigpen,  Third  (see  First,  &c.). 
Thistle,  Thorn,  Threat,  Throne,  Thunder  (see  Tempest), 
Tickle,  Tidy,  Tiffany,  Tigar,  Tightman,  Tiller,  Tilt,  Tin, 
Tipple,  Tippet,  Tittle,  Titmouse,  Tizard  (see  Izzard), 
Toad,  Toadvine,  Toddy,  Tomb,  Tongs  (see  Shovel,  Ham- 
mer), Toswill,  Tooth,  Toothaker,  Toogood,  Top,  Touch- 
stone, Tough,  Tow,  Towel,  Toy,  Trader,  Trap,  Trash, 
Treasurer,  Treble,  Trespass,  Tribe^  Trifler,  Trigger,  Trim, 
Trimming,  Tripe,  Trough  (see  Hog),  Trout,  True,  Truth 
(see  Lies),  Trueheart,  Trundle,  Tub,  Tubs,  Tuck,  Tuggey, 
Turbot,  Turk  (see  Mussulman),  Turtle,  Twaddle,  Tweedle, 
Twentyman  (see  Forty),  Twigg,  Twin,  Twinbelly,  Twitty, 
Twitching,  Twitchings,  Tyger,  Type,  Tythe. 

Underhay,  Underwood,  Unit,  Unthank,  Upfill,  Upright, 
Upward. 

Virtue,  fallen.  Catharine  Virtue  and  Sarah  Cohen  were 
convicted  of  stealing  a  piece  of  goods,  and  were  sentenced, 
each  to  two  years  and  three  months  in  the  Eastern  Peni- 
tentiary.— Ledger^  April  <^^  1 85 1. 

Virtue — the  reward  of  constant.  Married,  February  9th, 
by  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Gillette,  Mr.  Samuel  Virtue  to  Miss 
Annie  M.  Keichline,  all  of  Spring  Garden,  Philadelphia. — 
1851. 

Valiant  (see  Coward),  Varnish,  Vellum,  Venus  (see  Cupid), 
Verity,  Very,  Viall,  Victory,  Vile,  Violet,  Viper,  Virgin, 
Vixen,  Vizard. 

Weller.  "That's  what  I  call  a  repetition,"  exclaimed  a 
friend  the  other  day. 

"  What's  that,  Tom  ?"  said  we. 

"Why  look  at  that  sign  across  the  way — J.  E.  Weller, 
Jeweller." 


28  SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Window — the  meaning  of  a  broken  window.  King  and 
Whitaker,  Solicitors  in  London,  notify  the  creditors  of 
James  Window,  a  bankrupt,  to  send  the  particulars  of 
their  claims  to  the  office  of  the  solicitors. — Morning  Herald. 

Wench.  Mrs.  Wench  and  family  are  among  the  fashion- 
able departures  in  the  Morning  Herald^  Jug.  14,  1826. 

Wing — "  to  shoot  in  a  duel."  A  medical  gentleman,  named 
Pope,  charged  Mr.  Charles  Wing,  surgeon,  with  having 
attempted  to  provoke  him  to  fight  a  duel. — Morning  Herald^ 
Aug-  3^  1835. 

Wraith — "  The  water-wraith  was  shrieking."  T.  Camp- 
bell. Died  at  Frankford,  on  the  19th  inst.,  Mr.  John 
Wraith,  a  native  of  Mirfield,  England. — N.  American.^  July 

22,   1850. 

Worn — out.  Died  on  the  morning  of  the  loth  inst.,  Philip 
Worn,  in  the  75th  year  of  his  age. — A^.  American^  May  12, 
1851. 

Waddle,  Wages,  Wake,  Wallop,  Wallower  (see  Hog), 
Waltz,  Wants,  Warboys,  Warrant,  Wart,  Watchman, 
Waterer,  Weak,  Weakly,  Weary,  Weathercoat,  Weaving, 
Wedge,  Welfare,  Welshman,  Western,  Whale,  Whaler, 
Wharf,  Wheat,  Wheel,  Wheels,  Wherry,  Whetstone, 
Whip,  Whips,  Whipper,  Whisker,  Whittle,  Whitebread, 
Whimper,  Wickede,  Wicker,  Wig  (see  Hair),  Wiggs,  Wild- 
boar  (see  Hog),  Wind,  Winegar,  Winternight,  Winterbottom, 
Wire,  Wise,  Wiser,  Witherup,  Wizard,  Wool,  Wooler, 
Work,  Worknot,  Worms,  Worship,  Worst,  Wren  (see 
Crane  and  the  other  birds),  Wrinkle,  Write  (see  Read). 

Yarn,  Yea,  Yearly,  Yeast,  Yell,  Younger. 

ZwiSLEY,  Pius,  gives  notice  not  to  trust  any  one  on  his 
account. — Balti?nore  Paper.,  Sept.  5,  1835. 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES.  2() 

The  following  amusing  poem  by  Horace  Smith,  one  of  the 
authors  of  the  "  Rejected  Addresses,"  was  inserted  by  Mr 
Ingraham  in  his  book  : 

SURNAMES. 

Men  once  were  surnamed  from  their  shape  or  estate, 

(You  all  may  from  history  worm  it)  ; 
There  was  Louis  the  Bulky,  and  Henry  the  Great, 

John  Lackland  and  Peter  the  Hermit. 
But  now  when  the  door-plates  of  Misters  and  Dames 

Are  read,  each  so  constantly  varies 
From  the  owner's  trade,  figure  and  calling,  surnames 

Seem  given  by  the  rule  of  contraries. 

Mr.  Box  though  provoked,  never  doubles  his  fist, 

Mr.  Burns  in  his  grate  has  no  fuel, 
Mr.  Playfair  won't  catch  me  at  hazard  or  whist, 

Mr.  Coward  was  winged  in  a  duel; 
Mr.  Wise  was  a  dunce,  Mr.  King  was  a  Whig, 

Mr.  Coffin's  uncommonly  sprightly  ; 
And  huge  Mr.  Little  broke  down  in  a  gig 

While  driving  fat  Mrs.  Golightly. 

Mr.  Drinkwater's  apt  to  Indulge  in  a  dram, 

Mr.  Angel's  an  absolute  fury  ; 
And  meek  Mr.  Lion  let  fierce  Mr.  Lamb 

Tweak  his  nose  in  the  lobby  of  Drury. 
At  Bath,  where  the  feeble  go  more  than  the  stout, 

Mr.  Heavyside  danced  a  bolero 
Over  poor  Mr.  Lightfoot,  confined  with  the  gout, 

(A  conduct  well  worthy  of  Nero). 

Miss  Joy,  wretched  maid,  when  she  chose  Mr.  Love, 

Found  nothing  but  sorrow  await  her  ; 
She  now  holds  in  wedlock,  as  true  as  a  dove, 

The  fondest  of  mates,  Mr.  Hayter. 
Mr.  Oldcastle  dwells  in  a  modern-built  hut, 

Miss  Sage  is  of  madcaps  the  archest. 
Of  all  the  queer  bachelor's  Cupid  e'er  cut. 

Old  Mr.  Younghusband's  the  starchest. 


i 


30 


SINGULAR    SURNAMES. 

Mr.  Child,  in  a  passion,  knocked  down  Mr.  Rock, 

Mr.  Stone  like  an  aspen  leaf  quivers. 
Miss  Poole  used  to  dance,  but  stands  still  like  a  stock. 

Ever  since  she  became  Mrs.  Rivers. 
Mr.  Swift  hobbles  onward,  no  mortal  knows  how — 

He  moves  as  though  cords  had  entwined  him  ; 
Mr.  Metcalf  ran  oft"  upon  metting  a  cow, 

With  pale  Mr.  TurnbuU  behind  him. 

Mr.  Barker's  as  mute  as  a  fish  in  the  sea, 

Mr.  Miles  never  goes  on  a  journey, 
Mr.  Gotobed  sits  up  till  half  after  three, 

Mr.  Makepiece  was  bred  an  attorney ; 
Mr.  Gardener  can't  tell  a  flower  from  a  root, 

Mr.  Wild  with  timidity  draws  back, 
Mr.  Ryder  performs  all  his  journeys  on  foot, 

Mr.  Foot  all  his  journeys  on  horseback. 

Mr.  Penny,  whose  father  was  rolling  in  wealth. 

Knocked  down  all  the  fortune  his  dad  won ; 
Large  Mr.  Le  Fevre's  the  picture  of  health, 

Mr.  Goodenough  is  but  a  bad  one ; 
Mr.  Crookshanks  stepped  into  three  thousand  a  year 

By  showing  his  leg  to  an  heiress. 
Now  I  hope  you'll  acknowledge  I've  made  it  quite  clear, 

Surnames  ever  go  by  contraries. 


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